Smoked two good cigars

Have I ever mentioned that I love the time of year when the IPCPR come around. Its a cigar junkie's Christmas. All the cigar companies are releasing their newest lines and the rumors start flying. I get giddy when I hear about the newest additions to the Liga Privada lines. Also everyone wants see what the newest member of Tatuaje monster series is gonna look like (Wolfman looks awesome btw). We also get to try some of the new releases.

So the other day I got to try Kurt Kendall's newest addition to his very popular 7-20-4 line. Its called the 7-20-4 1874 series. It gets its name for the year that the original 7-20-4 factory opened. Now this cigar is a little different from the original 7-20-4 line. It features a Habano wrapper from the Jalapa region of Nicaragua. I found it to be a medium bodied cigar with a nice pleasant finish. I have just started to retro hale out of my nose a tiny bit. That usually makes my eyes water and I start sneezing. Its not a pretty site. But for this cigar it did not produce that reaction. It was a pleasant surprise. I actually got a slightly tangy, almost tart taste, right off the bat. It reminded me of a granny smith apple. It was really unique. After about the half way point, it turned over to bit of spice mixed in with some nice earthy flavors. I have to say I really enjoyed this cigar as a change of pace.

Today I got to try something that I ordered for the shop. This is not a new cigar but I have wanted to try it for a while. It was the Gran Habano Azteca. My friend Alex joked that it is the cigar of choice for the Apocalypse. I have to say that this is one of the most amazingly packaged cigars that I have seen. It comes in 20 count boxes that are shaped like Aztec ruins. The cigars have a very intricate top band that is rather large. A smaller band is on the foot that states the size. The Azteca is wrapped in a very dark San Andreas Maduro leaf. I have really been enjoying the San Andreas Maduros lately. Its supposed to be a full flavored cigar, but I felt it was more of a heavy medium. Not really full. I had a nice coffee undertone. Toast was the over prevailing flavor. It burned smooth and never got hot. I nubbed it right down to where I couldn't hold it any longer. The price point makes it even more enjoyable. I have a good feeling that these will do very well in the shop.

I can't wait for my boss to get back from the show to see what we are getting. Hopefully he will bring some back for me to sample. So what is everyone looking forward to seeing coming out of the IPCPR show? Feel free to leave a comment of things you would like to hear about, or just leave a comment about what you like/don't like about my blog. And remember please check out www.pipesandcigars.com.

Smoke a good one,

Andy

What a great night!

I started off last night with a softball game. Our team has been kinda down lately, especially after a we got 4 hit last week. So this week we had to turn it around. An boy did we. Everyone was hitting. I went 4-5 with a 3b, 2b, and two singles. Easily should have been 3 triples but we did not want to run up the score. We won the game 22-13. It was a good win and I was happy.

So after I decided sit out side on the patio with a beer, my book, and a nice cigar. After having that great cigar the day before I was hoping to keep thing on a roll. So I grabbed a Panacea Red 560 (again thanks to Brett). I grabbed a bud Light Lime and my book. i know what you are think "Yuck, Bud Light Lime!" I just happen to like it. I walk outside and it is just absolutely gorgeous out. Big bright moon, roughly 75 degrees out, just perfect. And to top it off, one of the restaurants across the street had a band outside on their patio that was just playing some nice mellow music.

Now to the cigar. The Panacea Red started off not at all how I expected it to. Just by looking at it, it had a nice dark toothy wrapper. But when I lit it, all I could taste is a weird sweet taste. It was hard to explain. The flavor did change from beginning to end. At about the half way point the sweetness was gone and a good rich leathery taste became the most prevalent flavor. The burn was probably the sharpest burn I have ever seen. And the ash was one of the firmest i have ever seen. I didn't try for a long ash, but I could have seen this thing lasting for at least 3 inches. It was actually hard to knock off. Overall this cigar started off a little weird, but finished with a bang. The construction was one of the best I have ever seen. I could definitely see myself trying this again. I wonder if the sweetness was just an anomaly.

The combination of the crazy moon, the drink, the good cigar, good music, and my book (Game of Thrones) made this just a wonderful evening. I hope to have many more like this.

Smoke a good one,
Andy

Man I've been busy.

Well I haven't had a lot of time for blogging. I have had some time to enjoy some great cigars. I started working at Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe in Albany NY. Actually more specifically I work on their website http://www.pipesandcigars.com/. Man what an experience it has been working at such a great place. I have met some incredible people and been fortunate enough to try out some amazing cigars.

One of the perks of working at a B&M is that you get to try out some samples from time to time. For example, I was lucky enough to sit down with my new friend Brett who is a rep for 262 cigars, Rodrigo cigars, and Panacea cigars. He treated me to an amazing Rodrigo Classic Toro. The Rodrigo has an amazingly balance flavor. Just enough spice to remind you that you are smoking a cigar, but not overpowering. The construction was impeccable. It burned smooth and was never hot. The leathery flavors with an earthen undertone made this something that I will be looking forward to smoking again. Thank you Brett.

So its good to be back in the swing of things. I can't wait to see what the IPCPR show has in store for us this year. Look for some great new releases. I know I can't wait. Thanks for taking a look.

Smoke a good one,
Andy